FOOTY CHAT

That's what we've been waiting for .....A WIN well done guys.

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https://covkids.forumotion.com/viewtopic.forum?t=318

Well what can we say.....ok ok a point and years ago we could/would have said "It's a point better than losing" but it's not....and now we hear Mowbray's gone, not surprised are we.   So which "idiot" will step into the vacant Managers boots?  

Thanks for the match report though Choccy P.  

Hi Malc.....I feel really down, it's as though Cov City FC is about to disappear.   Sigh!!

Hi folks...

I got to the Gillingham game, said hello to Kev in the ground before the game
he told me Choccy was there too, but alas I failed to spot him...

Thought City played well in spells, our No. 5 seemed to have an abundance of
skill in the midfield, but every time he looked to slip the ball through to the front
men, No. 17 &19, neither of them even looked like running in behind, which is where
we miss an Armstrong like C/F...to make the runs and stand on the shoulders of their defence
Thought the back four did ok, except for the first goal...they had already had a scare
a short while earlier with a similar ball played in and one which the was met by one
of their players but skidded just wide of the far post...the next one went in the net


I was told that there were 2,700 Cov fans at this game last season, well we were top
of the league I think...384 this season...tells it's own story...

Left before the second goal as I had to park up behind the pub that's sounds like a French
steak & Kidney pie ?...about 15 Cov fans drinking in this pub before the game...and Me ...lol.

Then we draw with the Wombles at home...not looking good at all for the club, on and off it.

Looks like Mowbray is on the verge of quitting. Another game Saturday another hope for a win.

Thanks for the match report Choccy P and going to the game.

Another long journey without reward.

Terrible.......SISU OUT.

It's about time the Coventry Telegragph was telling Sisu to "Sell Up And Go" and Anderson has gone.

So we are the strongest team in this Div...buy holding them all up...

Yes "oh crumbs" is correct and now bottom.

Oh crumbs

Good match report Choccy P......a hopefull match report. Thanks.

Hi Malc, well I am a ridiculously optimistic fan so I can't see us fighting a relegation battle but the longer we go without a win the harder it will get still a big improvement against Millwall so lets hope for the Oldham home game.

A long and tiring day but we came back with a good point and hopefully now can push ion for the rest of the season.

Hi Malc..... 1-1 and it sounded a good game. Wait until Choccy P comes in though.

There you go people...I don't think I have missed any ?

Hi there, sorry not been in and set up for the new season but been very busy for a long time now
but trying to slow things down a bit.
City look ready to stay were they are in the league for the rest of the season...hope not, but what do you think Choccy
seeing them first hand so to speak...is there any hope ???

They're busy like Malc Carole but I hope they do look in..... they're still very much Cov City fans.

Can't believe they're 37.....same age as Susan, none of the look their age.

JUST in case the Sitton Brothers look
in

Good match report.......thought about you all that way for that performance.

Fleetwood Vs Coventry City

Back on the coach for this one on a wet Saturday and made up to the coastal town in plenty of time. The transfer deadline had come and gone no players out but only two in as City looks set to stick with the youngest team in the football leagues. City had won the only two previous visits here without conceding a goal against a team that was in the North West Counties League ten years ago which is the 5th level on non-league football. The manager changed formation to a 5-3-2 as the line up was in goal Reece-Cook, with Page, Harries, Turnbull, Willis and making his debut Jamie Sterry at right back. In midfield we had Gadzhev, spelt with an “x” on the scoreboard, Bigirimana and McCann in midfield with Sordell and Agyei up front. No former City players anywhere in sight for Fleetwood.


It was raining heavily which seemed even too much for Fleetwood’s cod mascot who didn’t show much before kick off. City attacked the far end in the first half. It was the home side high up in the table that started the better as Turnbull block an effort on goal before the son of Andy Cole got past Sterry too easily got through but couldn’t enough power on the shot to test Cookie in goal. The Sky Blues then started to get hold of the ball more with Bigirimana orchestrated the midfield. City then had the first chance as McCann put a shot wide from distance. After 17 minutes we had drama as Fleetwood counter-attacked from a corner leaving City exposed Charles-Cook decided to race out to help out when he should have stayed on his line but he did get the ball flattening Harries in the process but the ball fell to Ball and put in a lobe that went over the keeper’s head and looked to be dropping into the net but then suddenly Sterry arrived on the scene to head it away from under the crossbar. This lifted the home side as they got forward more as a player got in the box Bigirimana threw himself at him, thankfully missing before the ball fell to Long whose shot was blocked by either Reece-Cook or Turnbull or maybe both. Cole then fired wide as he was giving Sterry a difficult debut. City soon were back having most of the ball as Page had plenty of room but his crossing was either not good enough or no forward was gambling to get on the end of one. Change then had to be made as McCann had picked up an injury and he was replaced by Tudgay. Gadzhev fired in a free kick saved by the keeper. The game was a pretty poor spectacle but City then had a chance as Sordell finally woke up with a run and played in Agyei but the ball stuck under his foot and he couldn’t get a shot away. ..


Second half City were attacking our end as Sterry sent in a curling shot that Neal in the home goal pushed away for a corner. Agyei was by far looking the best City forward as he made his way into the box but couldn’t test the keeper. Fleetwood were happy to sit back and counter attack as one swift move saw Cole blast a shot out of the ground. City continued the passing game when Bigirimana played Agyei through and the big forward tried to lift the ball passed the keeper but he stood up and slapped the shot away. Then Sordell lost the ball and City were countered with the quick move down our left the ball fell to Long who curled his shot past Reece-Cook for Fleetwood’s first ever home goal against City. TM decided to make a change but it wasn’t up front instead off went Gadzhev, who was poor and on came Stevenson. It then got worse as City were warming up a change again Sordell lost the ball and a swift counter saw Ball play in Woolford who drove home to make it 2-0. The new boy, Andre Wright was then introduced and I was surprise he looked quite tall but the away fans were unhappy that Agyei was taken off and not Sordell as the first time the fans turned on TM with “you don’t know what you are doing”. Wright didn’t look too bad as City tried to break down the home side Sterry knocked a couple of good crosses but it was plain to see why we have only scored two league goals this season, finally the referee, who was very good, blew for full time.

Man of the match
1st Gael Bigirimana: Best game since his first stint at the club.
2nd Chris Turnbull: Solid at the back
3rd Daniel Agyei: looked the only threat

This is not how it should be going.......2-0

Glad you stayed dry.......Ok about the boycott

No I sit at the back so comfortably in the dry. Not doing a report for the FLT games as I am boycotting the group stage

Thanks for the match report Choccy P......did you have to move back to get away from the or are you lucky enough not to sit so near the front?

Saw the rain on the TV Choccy over here while
watching the Leicester game ,should have thrown in some
soap on a rope

Coventry City Vs Northampton Town


It was the day of a planned protest against Sisu as rumours were rife that they could take City out of Coventry again. Back to the game and talking of out of Coventry, we welcomed Northampton to the ground, the Cobblers unbeaten away in the league since Cambridge beat them on the 17th of October. For the first time we faced a team with no ex-City players in the starting line up but did have Aaron Phillips on the bench. Meanwhile City gave home debuts to three players and not two as the media reported as Turnbull, Agyei and at last Sordell started; the rest of the line up was in goal Reece-Cook, with the other defenders Dion Kelly-Evans, Harries, Willis and Page, in midfield were McCann and Gadzhev leaving Tudgay up front supporting the other two. Just before kick off the heavens opened and we had lightening I timed it at about 1.8 miles away but thankfully the storm moved away leaving us with plenty of rain.


City looking to bounce back from the hammering at Norwich started of well when Sordell got in a shot. Tudgay then had a chance from a Page cross but the forward could only poke the ball well over. City fans were chanting “Sisu out” as the rain continued. The away side won a free kick before a raid down the left saw Harries slide in to concede a corner. The game itself was quite entertaining as City attacked again and McCann miscued the ball but it fell to Sordell in acres of space his first time header went straight to Smith in the goal when he should have done better. City were knocking the ball around well as Agyei got in a cross before Tudgay blasted a shot towards goal that looked goal bound before a defender go tin a good block. A powerful run then from Agyei open the Cobblers’ defence up but his shot just curled wide as City were on top. City were defending well with Willis and Turnbull looking good. One person that wasn’t looking good was the referee would put in an inept performance throughout missing several fouls and booking players for far less he wasn’t helped by Northampton team’s constant moaning and pick up yellow cards for that. Both sides shot over the bar before Gadzhev got a free kick on target but without any bother for the keeper. City needed a goal to turn our edge into a lead but it was the visitors who struck first when Gadzhev lost the ball resulted in a sweeping attack and Beutyman was there to slide the cross in for our first home league goal conceded at home for 252 minutes. City hit back as Sordell had a shot blocked before Tudgay headed over.


Northampton came out a lot stronger in the second half and pushed City back as a header went close. City soon regained the upper hand and started to probe again. Ten minutes into the half City went close as a ball was played into Tudgay’s feet outside the box the forward spun and sent a volley in on goal that Smith did well to turn away for a corner. The first change soon came as Jones replaced Agyei. The first contribution for the sub was to win a corner, this was delivered but Sordell wasted. Thankfully the rain started to relent as City continued to press. Down the left Page whipped in another cross but a bit too strong, Jones however picked the ball up on the other wing and knocked it back in and before Tudgay could reach it we were celebrating the forward’s 10th goal for the club. All level now and City looking most likely to win as McCann and Jones had chances the later testing the keeper. TM then went for a bold move brining on a midfielder for a defender, off went Harries and on came, for, technically, his third debut was Bigirimana who had signed early on Friday. Jones then had a great chance breaking clear to face the keeper but he showed why he has a poor goal scoring record by failing to beat the keeper. Bigirimana then volley over. The Cobblers threw on Phillips was we requested him to give us a penalty. McCann then into the book after sliding in making contact with the ball but not with the player, seconds later Jones was hacked down in the corner but no booking. Both sides to give them credit went looking for the win as City nearly took the lead with an own goal but the ball wasn’t running kindly. City then escaped after a good save from Reece-Cook. McCourt header over with the goal at his mercy but that would have been rough justice on City. Jones had a couple of shots but the game ended level with a performance most were happy with.

Man of the match
1st Chris McCann: Drove on from midfield
2nd Lewis Page: By far his best game.
3rd Marcus Tudgay: Maybe a run in the side

Good match report Choccy P.....I was thinking of you home 6 hours round trip THOUGH you went by coach much better.

Norwich City Vs Coventry City

With only three of us and the notorious A14 to tackle at night we decided to go my coach for the League Cup Game. We set off in the air-conditioned coach in wonderful sunshine and after a good three hour trip arrived in Norwich with the sun beating down making it feel like a pre-season friendly. It was my first visit to Carrow Road for five years after a walk around the ground we heard the team news and to our surprise TM put out the strongest team possible but with half the team missing though injuries or suspensions he didn’t have much of a choice. The line up in goal was Reece-Cook, with Dion, Harries, Ricketts, Willis and Page in defence; in midfield we had McCann, Gadzhev, and Stevenson and up front were Reid and Agyei. Norwich made 11 changes to the starting line-up from the last game and included two ex City players in Maddison and Murphy. Despite the wholesale changes the Canaries put out a very strong side.

The recently relegated home side started the better attacking City from the off with Ricketts being alert to stop one attack early on giving the home side a free kick with which Maddison put over the bar. City did settle down and started to play some football but the home side looked the better. Five minutes later Norwich won another free kick when Page was pulled up for a foul, instead of going for goal Maddison rolled the ball sideways for a team mate to have a crack on target but straight to Reece-Cook. City were holding on as Norwich dominated as one of their players shot wide. Their fans were singing as well mainly about their hatred of their neighbours, Ipswich, (some 45 miles to the south). The home side kept up the pressure and won a corner; Maddison took it and picked out their captain, Martin, whose header was tipped over by Reece-Cook in the goal. At the other end Agyei did fire wide in a rare attack but when we did get forward Page refused to take on his man whilst Dion was trying his best to get beyond their defence. A good sliding tackle by Ricketts broke up another attack. Minutes later no such luck as Willis misread a ball and the dangerous Canos got it and advanced he played in Northern Ireland International, Lafferty in for a one-on-one with Reece-Cook and he scored. Gadzhev had a shot that was saved by the Welsh International keeper (I said they had a strong reserve side) Jones, but it was off a side. City started to get into the game a bit more as good work by Dion found Stevenson who forced a save before Gadzhev fire not too far wide. Ten minutes from the end of the half Canos got the ball on the left and cut in then he curled a great shot around Reece-Cook to make it two. A good goal and this got the noisy but annoying home fans singing again whilst I reminded them of the money gap between the clubs. City were now hanging on for half time as Reid lost the ball to Maddison he played in our 2nd highest scorer from last season, Murphy, whose shot was blocked for a corner before the half ended.


Second half saw a change on came Lameiras for Reid. City started quite well with Agyei forcing the keeper into a save. Maddison then had a shot save at the other end. Agyei then got the ball to Gadzhev who fired into the side netting. It wasn’t a bad game now as both teams used the ball well to get forward as Norwich came close with a header. At our end of the pitch Dion looked for a through-ball and was clearly pushed in the back the referee Mr Webb, who had a good game, agreed and gave City a penalty. It was quite surprising to see Lameiras step up for the spot kick but after a short delay the sub despatched the kick and suddenly we were back in the tie. One thing you mustn’t do in these circumstances is conceded quickly but that’s what happened as a Maddison corner was floated in and Martin knock it home and the stuffing out of the young City side. Lameiras had a good chance to make it 3-2 but scuffed his shot before Murphy was played in and he curled the ball past the keeper to wrap up the game. Norwich made a change but it was not popular one for me off went Jacob Murphy and was replace by his twin Josh and I complained bitterly that it would be good to see twins on the field minutes later it happened as Devon Kelly-Evans came on for his debut and for only the 5th time in our history we had brothers playing and for the first time twins. “See Norwich”, I shouted “We have a sense of occasion!” City then were unlucky as Agyei got his head on a good Dion cross only to hit the post and ball rebound off him and for a goal kick he was then withdrawn for Kyle Spence for his third game, all in different competitions. Norwich were well on top as Canos ghosted in to score again. The Norwich fans celebrated and taunted us whilst I replied “£150 million for failure!” as Norwich received somewhere around that for being relegated and Maddison alone cost several times more that our entire squad. I carried on entertaining the people near me rounded on Norwich, being a Premier League team allowing a Leicester to win the league. Dion and Devon combined well down the wings as City keep playing the ball and Spence again looked lively but it was Norwich who again scored this time Godfrey scoring with a powerful kick equalling our heaviest ever away cup defeat. Norwich fans where celebrating by taking their shoes off whilst I responded with “take your shoes off if you got six toes!” implying genetic deformities through inbreeding. The home side looked for seven as they hit the post. Thankfully there were no more goals and we could head back to the coach for the trek home.

A closer to the A14 meant we hit Cov before 2 a quick jog home and I got to bed at 2.30.

Man of the match
1st The fans: For turning up
2nd Dion Kelly-Evans: Got forward well
3rd Daniel Agyei: Our only big player.

Vicky sounds fun around yours during the games

Well let's see what we're going to do tonight.

Oh Choccy P we had Steve's kids yesterday (Chyna's children) and Lily beat me 14 -1 at Connect 4 but when we were playing noughts & crosses I was beating her and I was "Eight one eight one eight one" then she started to beat me and it got to "Eight seven...sniff eight seven sniff eight seven sniff" she was giggling away and then I went "SACK the board sack the board sack the board" then she beat me again and I was "Sack the board sack the manager....sack the tea lady" and Lily said "NO not the tea lady with the biscuits" so I started "Sack the tea lady with the biscuits" and Lily was "NO not the kit-kates or the Choccy Penuins" so I said "I sat near a guy called Choccy Penguin when I used to go to watch Coventry City play" of course she started to giggle and I said "You ask your Dad when you get home and he'll tell you he knows Choccy Penguin" we'll have you knighted soon. I then show her the birthday card you sent to me....Lily said "Of course it's got penguins on it" she's 7. We had fun though....well you know me.

Great report Choccy P I also enjoy your experience getting there and your chatter to Bradford fans. Thank you.

Bradford City Vs Coventry City


The day started with set setting off to Kev’s house for the pick up when half way my car started to sound like a motorbike. At Kev’s had a quick check and I had blown my exhaust. Thankfully we had Adam with us today who had a car so he drove to the next pick up point in Leicester where Paul was waiting. A trouble free trip up the motorway to Bradford for my 9th visit and yet to see a win there in fact we haven’t won there since the 1960’s. Chatted to a few Bradford fans outside the ground and they already love Vincelot whilst they wished Reid had signed for them. They also confirmed the price of season tickets at Valley Parade was a mere £150 and if you wanted to add a child’s season ticket to that it would cost only an extra £5. Quite incredible no wonder they can always fill the ground, meanwhile we were charge £20 for the honour. In the ground we got the news that we wanted about our new forward playing the team was in goal, Reece-Cook, with Ricketts, Willis and making his debut Jordan Turnbull, the fullbacks were Page and Dion Kelly-Evans, with McCann, Gadzhev, Stevenson and up front was ex-Bantam Reid and making his debut the big and powerful looking Daniel Agyei. Today’s former City players were, apart from Vincelot playing at the back they had Colin Doyle in goal and Mark Marshall on the wing.


City attacked the far end in the first half in the rain. It was clear from the off Bradford more a passing side under McCall than under Parkinson then again it would have been difficult to go more direct. Then City started to play well first off Agyei show his power and speed by getting beyond the defence but could test the keeper before Reid broke free and was denied by the legs of the keeper. City kept up the pressure with some slick football as Stevenson won the ball and feed Agyei on the edge of the area, the big forward turned and got beyond the defence the keeper came out and was chipped to register City’s first goal of the season. At last a goal and the forward looked exactly what we needed. City now with the confidence flowing went looking for a second. Meanwhile Bradford were struggling to get going with the defence well on top. McCann had a blast wide before Marshall had a dangerous run before blasting well wide. At the other end the referee Mr Miller who ran the game well awarded a free kick which Gadzhev just put too high. Agyei had another good run and he looks a real handful. Bradford were slowly getting back into the game but the back three looked solid with Willis winning everything. McCann then had to be alert for a block as the Bantams ended the half on top before a Law shot was scrambled away. City ended the half in the lead and things were looking good.


Not long into the second half City had a great chance as Agyei played in Reid who had only the keeper to beat as he was about to shot McMahon slid it with a perfectly timed tackle, from behind to take the ball away. The Sky Blues were coming under increasing pressure as Page was staring to struggle to keep a hold of Marshall. The home side kept pressing and Vincelot had a header that just went over. Willis was again on hand to clear after a good cross as City started to hang on. City then spring a counter attack as a ball was played up to Reid a defender challenged him fairly to stop him breaking free the ball fell to Stevenson who had only had a defender in front of him Mr Miller blew a half so the players could receive treatment. Reece-Cook then had to make a save at the near post. TM decided to change things around and took off a clearly tiring Agyei after a great debut and throw on Marcus Tudgay for his 50th league game only the 70th City forward to reach this mark. City under pressure but looking strong then the wheels came off, Billy Clarke raced into the area passed Turnbull the defender got a hold of his shirt and brought him down, penalty and to make it worse he was the last man so no other choice from Mr Miller but to send him off, I think the first debutant to be sent off since David Thompson. McMahon took the kick and despite Reece-Cook going the right way it was well placed and level. TM decided to change things around to see if we could hang on for a point at least as Reid was withdrawn with great applause from the home fans and on came Harries, “the best laid plans of mice and men”, as Robert Burns says as Marshall got the ball on the right cut in and released a terrific shot from the edge of the area curling around Reece-Cook and Bradford led. It was now all Bradford as they went close again before Gadzhev clipped a player just inside the box, again a clear penalty and an unnecessary one. McMahon again took it Reece-Cook went the wrong way but it was tucked in the top corner, so he wouldn’t have saved it anyway. It was now a case of how many as George Thomas was thrown on for Ricketts. Marshall had another good run and got around the keeper for what looked like a certain goal but somehow the City defenders managed to clear it off the line then minutes later a quickly taken free kick saw a Bantam player free in the box he beat the keeper but this time it was Dion in too clear off the line. Thankfully the game ended as City slipped into the relegation zone but more showed promise as the team is still being built up.

Man of the Match
1st Daniel Agyei: Power, speed and can score.
2nd Jordan Willie: Player of the season so far
3rd Kyel Reid: Best game so far.

what happened....1-0 to us and then.....sigh!!

0-0 we don't seem to be able to score.....though we didn't let any in so that's good.

Great match report Choccy P.

I did thank you for my birthday card on the chatty page but I'll thank you again just in case you've not seen it. THANK YOU

Coventry City Vs Bury Town

A good crowd of just fewer than 10,000 turned up to see if City could get off the scoring mark but the team news hardly inspired confidence. Reid and Jones apparently carrying knocks no news on Kwame Thomas and Sordell still out the front three were Tudgay, George Thomas and Lameiras, in midfield we had Gadzhev and making his debut Chris McCann, the back five were Rose, Ricketts, Harries, Willis and Rose but the new defender Jordan Turnbull wasn’t signed in time to be included. In goal was Reece-Cook playing his 40th league game. Today’s ex-City player, enforced in the F.A. rules you have to have one, was Jermaine Grandison who played 8 games for us some six years ago now. Last season City won this game 6-0 but only Ricketts and Reece-Cook started both, Rose and Lameiras came off the bench that day.

The game started quietly and basically remained that way (I could finish the match report there but I will plough on). Town were pushing forward early on but Harries was getting to everything at the back. With the game still trying to settle we had problems for Bury when Danns went down and tried again after treatment but had to be taken off. Lameiras then had City’s first shot fizzing well wide as both defences were well on top. City looked toothless up front, George Thomas who would maybe 7th or 8th choice forward after the transfer window, looked lost, Lameiras was too weak, Tudgay tried his best to win the headers but City were nowhere as strong as the visitors. A brief worry as Bury knocked in a free kick and Reece-Cook came out and totally missed it but it went out for a goal kick. With ten to go Bury’s Jones flew into Rose with studs up and injured the player, many fans were screaming for a red card but maybe a yellow would have been more appropriate but Mr England decided to just give a warning. I wonder what he thought minutes later when Rose had to limp off and be replaced by Dion Kelly-Evans. City’s tactic of knocking the ball down the wing for Rose to head was now over. Reece-Cook had us on the edge of our seats as he was closed down but City retained the ball. Up front it was awful but at the back it was solid with Willis and Ricketts joining Harries in clearing everything up. Etutu then blocked a free kick and was booked, so a studs up challenge that injures a player gets nothing an instinctive block gets a yellow card, strange rules football has. Tom Pope came close to getting on the end of a cross as we entered injury time where Pope fired at the keeper and McCann fired wide. The team was booed off.

Second half, at last a chance off went Lameiras who was missing again and on came Jones. City won a corner early on that Willis headed wide as the search for a league goal went on. Jones was improving things with a couple of darting runs but after one of them I could see he was clearly holding his groin and he looked like he had pulled something. Finally George went off and was replaced by Reid, City now looked a bit better. City won a corner and Gadzhev nearly picked out Harries but Bury counter attacked and fired over. Jones then got himself into a good position but instead of shooting, maybe his injury didn’t help, he picked out Kelly-Evans who hit the side netting. Reid worked himself into some good positions but his finishing was poor maybe a collective lack of confidence amongst the players. The game itself was still very poor as Harries now started to take the ball out into midfield to get things moving. Haynes put in a couple of good tackles as the clock ran down. Late on Bury had a couple of good chances one blocked by the keeper the other fired over before Tudgay volleyed one wide then Mr England blew for full time.

More booing but with two players promised by the manager before Bradford and maybe Sordell available things are maybe not too bad.

Man of the match
1st Cian Harries: A great talent
2nd Jordan Willis: Played well.
3rd Sam Ricketts: Used his experience well.

Well done with the match report.....once again.

Coventry City Vs Shrewsbury Town

Toady obituary ex-City players were Jim O’Brien and Gary Deegan meanwhile Sordell failed a late fitness test but we did have a new defender. The line up was in goal Reece-Cook, with Rose, Ricketts, Willis, Harries and making his debut Lewis Page at the back. Gadzhev and Stevenson were in midfield leaving the front three of Reid, Lameiras and Jones. Inside the ground, using my season ticket I was ready for the first home league game of the season.

City looked bright early on with Ricketts going close from a corner. City were still using the ball well when Lameiras slide in Gadzhev who hit the side netting. City were passing the ball around well and testing the Shrews as Reid tried to escape down the wing earning a booking for the Shrews’ fullback. The resulting free kick taken by the Bulgarian found the Portuguese who couldn’t beat the Swiss in the goal. It was all City as Page did well to keep the ball in play and found Reid, the forward then back-heeled to the full back whose cross picked out Rose but the header was wide. Shrewsbury were sitting deep and already wasting time as City continued to probe. Reid then went close with a shot over the bar. The away side finally had an effort before the half ended without any goals.


Second half saw Town make two changes, they had the first chance of the half before Gadzhev curled a free kick wide. Ricketts was then booked as Mr Joyce the referee started to take centre stage. City then counter attacked well with Reid getting in a shot that the keeper turned around the post the resulting corner saw Rose go close. The first subs were then made of went Jones who was looking good and on came Tudgay. The referee meanwhile was still allowing the away side to waste time and seemed to give every decision their way. Stevenson was then booked as the ref was happy to show the yellow card. Rose fired wide before Harries was booked. Lameiras then was taken off and replaced by Kyle Spence who’s only appears was a couple of years ago in the J.P.T at Wycombe. Page was then booked and this time I had no complaints. At the other end Gadzhev showed strength in knocking over Deegan but the so-called Pitbull refused a hand shake from the midfielder. The Reid was withdrawn and Kwame Thomas came on for his home debut. Spence had a good run but then Thomas went down and was in a bad way, after a couple of minutes the distressed forward was stretchered off which is a massive blow for the club. City now had to play 15 minutes with ten men. Despite being lighter in numbers City still went forward but it was the away side that came closer hitting the post then in the dieing seconds a ball ran across the goal and it seemed a tap in for O’Brien but thankfully he couldn’t reach it and we got our first point of the season.

City look good apart from the scoring department with Thomas now injured a lot is riding on Sordell.

Man of the Match
1st Jordan Willis: Strong at the back
2nd Kyle Reid Looking good
3rd Cian Harries A great future.

0-0

Awww cute avatar Choccy P

Oh good Choccy P.

Well at least I got my season ticket card today, so that is something.

Oh Choccy P I read your report shaking my head.....talk about Sisu being useless.....you couldn't have your seat because it's reserved for the season ticket holder YOU. <---- that poster really says "SISU OUT" BTW what's going to happen when we're playing at home "Oh sorry someone else sits there" YES ME.

Oh well great report anyway Choccy P.

Coventry City Vs Portsmouth


So with the fiasco that is Coventry City forcing me down the Ricoh early as possible for despite paying in May I still hadn’t received my season ticket, along with many others and since I ticketed the cup ticket section I also never received my Pompey ticket either. The ticket office was closed at Butts earlier in the day so turned up at the Ricoh at 6.15, thankfully the queue wasn’t too long and it took me 15 minutes to reach the tills. I tried to book my season ticket seat but that was not available on the fact it had been reserved for me, being a season ticket holder but I couldn’t buy it because it had to be set aside for myself, so no one else could take it not even I, who is the season ticket holder! I bought the ticket and had to pay a £1 surcharge making it more expensive than the Portsmouth fans were paying. Left the office and now the queue was stretching well beyond the door of the office despite only having a small attendance. Into the ground and I heard the team news and T.M didn’t tinker with the side as much as I though he would, in goal was Reece-Cook, with Rose, Ricketts, Willis, Harries and Haynes at the back, Gadzhev and making his debut Ben Stevenson, leaving Lameiras, Tudgay and George Thomas up front meanwhile today’s ex City player was Adam Barton captaining the League Two side with Baker and Doyle on the bench. By now the organisers had a brainwave and decided to open up two cash turnstiles as the queue was stretching to the roundabout, this prompted a mad rush but everyone tried to get in before kick off.

So City set out trying to win a League Cup tie for the first time since we beat Birmingham in 2012. City started fairly well with Willis having a header cleared before Haynes went on a run and fired in shot but no problem for the keeper. Pompey then got a shot in at the end where their fans where. Haynes had another go before Tudgay had a shot none of them on target as the game had a pre-season feel about it. The League Two side were finding their way into the game and after a second corner Bennett advanced into the box and Gadzhev missed his challenge and brought him down, the linesman gave it and it looked a pretty clear penalty. The City players protested claiming a dive as Vladimir was booked. Main took the spot kick as we waited to see if Reece-Cook was any better at penalties than last season the answer no, as again he dived the wrong way as Pompey took the lead. Haynes was taken out with a bad tackle and his assailant was very lucky to escape without a booking. The away side started to drop back and defend as City came forward. Rose was given plenty of space down the right and he picked out Tudgay who couldn’t get any direction or power on a header. City were looking comfortable on the ball but the Portsmouth defence were having no problems. One shift counter-attack saw the lower division side break clear but Willis showed great pace to get back and break up the attack, the Cov Kid was having a good game. Barton almost scored for his old club forcing the keeper to tip the ball over his own bar. City were being let down in several areas, Lameiras and Tudgay up front and Haynes at left back were poor. Portsmouth came close at the other end before Gadzhev again picked out Rose who crossed but Tudgay could get it on target. The away side were wasting time and they got away with taking what seemed like over thirty second for a throw in. In the last minute Rose had a chance, after the ball had broke to play in Ricketts, how had made a run into the area but instead passed to Thomas in an off side position. Half time a goal down most of us would have liked to see new signing Lewis Page come on for the second half for Haynes.

At half time the P.A announced that all season tickets have been despatched whilst I shouted back that I could have delivered them quicker on my bicycle.

Second half did see a change as Jones replaced Thomas. The change had an immediate impact as the player showed great skill in jinked past a couple of tackles and lifting the team and crowd. A couple of “Sisu out” chants rolled down from the stands. Rose again crossed well before Stevenson had a blast, the young midfielder was playing well, and passing the ball with great proficiently it was hard to believe it was his debut. Haynes then over hit another cross as City started to dominate. Jones then wriggled free and teed up Lameiras for a shot that hit the woodwork. City kept up the pressure as Lameiras had a cross cleared and Gadzhev clipped the ball back it the Portsmouth defence couldn’t clear and the ball dropped to Haynes who hit it first time to level the game up the club’s current longest serving player’s second goal. Reid came on for Tudgay and now City started to look very threatening. Portsmouth were pulled up, too the delight of the home supports for taking too long over a throw in. Suddenly all the passes where sticking City were knocking it around well and Haynes went from a poor player to one full of confidence as Reid was dragging defenders around. Reid fired in a cross as Jones just couldn’t get on the end of it. T.M made another change off went the immaculate Willis and on came Jack Finch for his first game since a home game again Milton Keynes a couple of seasons ago so it was the defender’s first game under Mowbray. Then with eight minutes left Jones found Lameiras who played in Gadzhev and the former Levski man got off the mark by rolling the ball past the keeper. I celebrated by showing people my Levski key ring and shouting “rakia”, a popular drink in Bulgaria. Portsmouth went forward minutes later and won a free kick some 25-30 yards out but Naismith hit it perfectly and scored with a brilliant free kick and we were level again. It was Portsmouth looking the most dangerous in the closing minutes but the referee blew for full time meaning we had another half an hour to watch.

Maybe not so much fun for the travelling fans from Hampshire as the first period of extra time got under way as we all dreaded a penalty shoot out. Now it was all City who were keeping the ball as Portsmouth looked knackered. After a 100 minutes Jones forced the keeper into a save. The big danger was a counter attack and this happened minutes later as Portsmouth raced down the right Bennett was free down the middle, he received a pass and only had Reece-Cook to beat the keeper raced out but the played was about to skip around him when Cookie reached around him and took the ball off his feet and the defence got back to clear the danger. The first period ended.

The period was seconds old when Haynes fired in a shot the keeper pushed it away but only to Rose who scrambled the ball home to give City the lead again. I insisted that the game should now be a Golden Goal as City showed great skill in keep ball. Poor old Portsmouth couldn’t get the ball as the Sky Blues were showing great professionalism. City could have added to the score line but Bass in the away goal was keeping his side in it including scrambling back to prevent a spectacular own goal. The Portsmouth fans were still giving good support with the Pompey Chimes and the dieing minutes saw Portsmouth finally get the ball and go forward but the defence stayed resolute to see out the game and for City to make the 2nd Round.

Man of the Match (a real tough choice)
1st Andy Rose looked great at right back and scored
2nd Vladimir Gadzhev: a natural replacement for Fleck
3rd Ben Stevenson: a great debut

 am I allowed to post on this page?  

Anyway Choccy P glad you got the card ok.  

Sorry it couldn't have been a better score.....  though hey I wasn't playing .....but you want to have a word with Alvin Martin ....if you ever come across him  he was going on about certain clubs spending money in the lower leagues and he mentioned Coventry City as one of those clubs....  it's a good job I wasn't the one  as I heard him. Is he on Joy's pay roll?      Anyway after all that.....

Good match report.....thank you once again.

Swindon Town Vs Coventry City


So the season was back and we kicked off against a team we have not beaten in the league since the 1960’s. It was a wonderful warm day, a day for doing the garden, being by the sea or watching cricket as they where when we finally pulled into the cricket ground in Swindon which is next door to the football ground. It had taken three hours to reach the Wiltshire town but the mood was kept high by the boxes of cakes I brought with me being my birthday recently for the three in the car. It hasn’t been a great summer for City with the expected number of players not signed and the academy threatened with closer because Sisu don’t want to maintain civil relationships with anyone. Season tickets still not posted and a club run on the standards that would embarrass a Sunday League team
In the old and frankly dangerous County Ground at last we could get a new season underway. The first game of the new season is normally trying to get used to all the new faces but it wasn’t hard today as we only had one debutant starting, the team was playing 5-2-3, in goal Reece-Cook, with Dion Kelly-Evans and Haynes as wing backs, Harris, Ricketts and playing his first game of the year after a long injury Willis. In midfield we had Gadzhev, Rose, with Jones, George Thomas and new boy Marvin Sordell up front.

City were in the new home kit that looks a lot better at a distances than it does close in. It was a good turn out for the City fans. City attacked the far end in the first half and early on Jones was brought down and won a free kick it was cleared but not very well and the ball came back to Sordell whose shot took a slight deflection and hit the post. Swindon had former City player Connor Thomas playing but in defence and amazingly as captain. City were looking quite good going forward with Sordell showing some good control. The Robins looked poor at the back and City were looking the better side. Swindon were looking poor at the back as Sordell found space again after a run and knocked the ball across the penalty area George Thomas threw himself at it but couldn’t make good contact. Swindon started to retain more of the ball but they couldn’t find a way through the defence. City were easily the better side as Sordell flicked the ball and Kelly-Evans forced the Robins’ keeper into a save. The home side kept the ball and continued to probe and finally had a shot on target. Sordell was first into the book and he was very harshly booked by a not very good referee. Jones was looking lively as well when he played a ball through for Thomas to run onto he only had the keeper to beat but made it easy for him with a poor shot. The first half ended as Mr Hendley the referee was booed after a poor first half.

The second half saw a surprise as Sordell didn’t re appear and was replaced by debutant Kyel Reid. City attacking the section of the away fans saw the first chance as Jones had a shot blocked by the keeper’s legs. Swindon started to improve and missed a golden chance when they blasted over. Harris made a great block back in the defence. City didn’t look as sharp without Sordell as Swindon were now looking the better side. Willis blocked a shot. At the other end Jones went down with cramp and was replaced by Lameiras. Not long after one Thomas was replaced by another as Kwame made his debut as it seemed City couldn’t afford more than one Thomas on the pitch at the same time. City had now lost their way up front as the midfield were disappointing. The Robins were winging around the area and a shot smacked against the crossbar before Reece-Cook made a save. Late on Swindon found room and Kasim unleashed a great shot to give the home side the lead and they probably deserved it.

Man of the Match:
1st Cian Harris: Only his second game but played well
2nd Sam Ricketts: Under ratted
3rd Marvin Sordell: Looks promising.

Sorry haven't been on line for a while.

Cheers for the birthday card Vicky

Will do the match report later

Well we lost our first game.

All the best Choccy P if you don't fancy the cake I'll have some.

Choccy just want to wish you a VERY HAPPY
,,,,extra all around
for tomorrow Aug 5th right ?

So Cov is a training ground for the National Managers:thmup:  of England, Scotland, Wales & N Ireland